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Abortion

Provided the woman is less than twelve weeks pregnant, an abortion is a technically simple procedure, but more advanced pregnancies are more difficult to terminate.

On attending the clinic where the procedure is to be performed, the woman will be questioned about her overall health and the details of the pregnancy. She will be examined generally and internally, a pregnancy test may be performed, and an ultrasound scan of the lower belly should be done.

Once these details are completed, if she is determined to proceed, the woman will be taken to an operating theatre and usually a brief general anesthetic will be given, although some clinics do use a form of local or spinal anesthetic.

While anaesthetized, a thin tube is introduced through the vagina and cervix and into the uterus (womb). Suction apparatus is attached to the other end of the tube, and the tube is moved around inside the uterus, sucking out the contents, which include the developing foetus and placenta. There are several other techniques (eg. curette), but this is now the most common.

The operation lasts only ten to fifteen minutes, and the woman will wake up from the anesthetic in a recovery room. After a couple of hours she will be allowed to go home but should have an internal check by a doctor (often her own general practitioner) in the next day or two to ensure that there are no complications.